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W. S. IRELAND. SHORTHANDI MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21'; I917.

Patented Dec. 9;1919.

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W. S. IRELAND.

SHORTHAND MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB-21,1917.

1,324,551 Patented D66. 9,1919.

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Patented Dec. 9,1919.

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SHORTHAND MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21. 1917.

1 324,55 1 Patented Dec. 9, 1919.

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i may spell the word properly, phonetic spell- WARD S. IRELAND, 01 $1. LOU-IS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNQR TQ NATIONAL SHOBTHAND MACHINE COMPANY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CGRPOEATION OF DELAWARE.

sHoa'rHAnn-Maontma- To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, WARD S. IRELAND, a citizen of the United States of America, a resident of the city of St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in shorthand-Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My'invention relates to improvements in shorthand machines, and more particularly to a shorthand keyboard and printing elements associated therewith. By the term shorthand machine I mean a machine having number of keys adapted to be actuated simultaneously so that a collection of letters constituting a word or part of a Word maybe printed or written quickly by. a single stroke of one or both of the operators hands. The printed characters ing may be resorted to, or a codemay be used in lieuof such spelling.

One of the objects of the invention is to produce a simple shorthand printing device having its parts so constructed and arranged that a reat variety of shorthand expedients may. e printed through the medium of a simple keyboard. A further object of the invention is to produce an improved means whereby the operator can correctly write, or print, many different characters which, heretofore, have been only vaguely represented by arbitrary combinations of characters.

Another object of the invention is to produce a new shorthand machine keyboard having a highly desirable combination of conveniently arranged keys under, the immediate control of the thumbs and fingers of the operator. I

With th foregoing and other objects in view the invention comprises the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter' more sp'ecifica ly de scribed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein is shown the 'preferred embodiment of the invention, however, it is to be understood that the invention comprehends changes, variations and modifications which come-within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

The shorthand machine I .haveshown to Specification of Letters Patent;

illustrate the preferred form of the invention is provided with means for printing upon and feeding astrip of paper. The

Patented Dec. a, 1919. Application filed February 21, 191?. Serial Ho.'150,055. i

keyboard includes-keys which may be op erated simultaneously to print a line of characters. During each key operation, the paper advances one step irrespective of the number of keys used in printing the character or characters.

Heretofore, numerals have been represented by combinations of alphabetical characters, and also by combining alphabetical characters with another character to indicate that the printed matter is a code representin one or more numbers. In following t e last mentioned method, the operator 1 must depress one key to print the number-indicating character, and at the same time manipulate the alphabetical keys to print the" alphabetical characters which are to be read as numerals. Moreover, in

transcribing the notes the operator must watch carefully for the. distinguishing character indicating that the alphabetical characters represent numerals.

It is an advantage to construct the printing elements in such a manner that a great.

variety of characters may be. selected and printed on a; relatively narrow strip ofpaper. This reduces" the weight. of the paper roll, and, furthermore, it is comparatively easy to read the relatively. short lines of characters.

To obtain all of the foregoing advantages, more particularly the highly important advantage of enabling the operator to 'write words or words and numerals very rapidly, the printing type consists of what I term primary and secondary characters,

and the finger keys have been so constructed and arranged that all of the selected keys may be actuated quite easily. and very uickly. Before describing a specific strucure, I will endeavor to more clearly explain the reason for using the terms .primary and secondary characters, and point out the beneficial results derived from the newcombination and arrangement of keys and type characters. a

The group or groups 'of characters used most frequently. have been termed primary charact'ersyand the characters not used so often are the secondary 'characterc. However, the secondary characters are quite important, and the printing of such characters should be easily controlled by the hands of the operator.

If the keyboard is so constructed that all of the primary and secondary characters may be printed simultaneously in a single line, the line would be very long, and the desired keys could not be readily selected I key, and it is apparent that this cannot be done if one or more fingers are used for the sole purpose of actuating one or more individual shift keys. Consequently, the highly desirable maximum speed cannot be obtained if any of the fingers are required to perform the sole function of actuating a shift key.

I will now briefly describe a structure 'Whereby I overcome all of these disadvantages.

The printing elements include primary and secondary type characters arranged in difierent lines, a collection of primary keys, and a secondary key, or shift key, for moving the secondary characters to the printing line. The primary characters are printed by actuating the primary keys, and all of said primary characters may be printed simultaneously in a single line, by depressing all of the primary keys at the same time. The secondary key, or shift key, is preferably associated with a series of the primary keys, and if all of the keys of this series are depressed with the secondary key, all of the secondary characters will be printed in a single line. Any one or more of the said series of primary keys may be selected and depressed with the secondary key for the purpose of printing the selected secondary characters.

Stated more specifically, one of the desirable features consists in combining the primary and secondary keys, in such a manner that any of the secondary characters maybe printed by a single stroke of a single finger. The same is true of the primary characters. In other Words, the machine is provided with both primary and secondary characters, and any of the characters may be selected and printed by only one finger.

Figure I is a diagrammatic view of the printing elements.

Fig. His a longitudinal section.

Fig. 111. is a fragmentary View showing the type carrier in its secondary printing position.

Fig. IV is a plan view, partly in section, illustrating a modification.

iasaapai Fig. V is a longitudinal section machine shown in F ig. IV

The structure shown in Figs. 1 to H1 includes a keyboard provided with a group of primary keys for printing the initial consonants K, S, B, T, P, H, L and R; a group of primary keys for printing the final consonants L, R, N, M, B. T, G, L, Y and S, and a group of primary keys for printing the vowels A, O, E and I. If all of these primary keys are depressed simultaneously, all of the primary characters will be printed in a single line, approximately as shown at the upper portion of Fig. I. Any primary key, or a combination of primary keys may be selected and depressed simultaneously to print any selected primary character or characters.

The keyboard also includes a series of individual secondary keys 1, 2, 3, a, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,-0 and c, associated with the primary keys K, B, P, L, O, E, L, N, B, (i and Y, respectively, to print the secondary charao ters as will be hereinafter described.

The strip of paper 14 (Fig. 11) upon which the characters are printed, passes from a supply roll 15, under rods 16 and 17, thence rearwardly to a discharge opening at the rear of the machine.

The type support preferably comprises a shiftable type carrier 19 provided with a row of primary type P and a row of secondary type S. This type carrier is pivotally supported at 20. Spools 21 mounted in the type carrier, support an inking rib bon 22, the ends of said ribbon being secured to the spools and a portion of the inking ribbon lies between the paper 14 and the type on the type carrier. The primary type characters P normally lie at the pinting line, and they may be printed by actuating the primary keys. The type carrier may be shifted on the axis of its pivot 20 to locate the secondary type S at the printing line, as shown in Fig. III;

The primary type characters normally lie opposite a row of printing hammers 23 which extend from key levers 24. Each of of the these key levers forms part of a primary key, audit is pivotally supported by a pivot 25 (Fig. II). Springs 26 (Fig. H) secured to the key levers 24, yieldingly hold said levers in their non-printing positions. When one of the primary keys is depressed, one of the printing hammers 23 moves forwardly, thereby forcing the paper 14 onto the inking ribbon 22, at the same time forcing said rib bon onto a type character.

The means for shifting the type carrier 19 to locate the secondary type S at the printing line comprises a series of key levers 27, each of which forms part of a secondary key, a universal shift bar 28 arranged below andfitted to said levers 27, a pair of suspension rods 29 and 29 connecting said universal shift bar to a pair of arms 30 and 30', and a toggle connecting the arm 30. to the type carrier 19. This toggle comprises an arm 31 pivoted at 32 and rigid with arm 30, and a link 33 connecting said arm 31 to the type carrier 19. The link 33 is pivoted at 34 to the upper end of arm 31, and also pivoted at 35 to the type carrier 19. Restoring springs 36, connected to the arms 30 and 30, tend to retain the type carrier 19 and the universal shift bar 28 in the positions shown in Figs. I and II. The secondary key keys to provide movement from levers '27 are thus forced into engagement with a stop 37.- Each individual secondary key lever 27 is also forced into engagement with the stop 37 bymeans of individual- B, G and Y are provided with rigid fingers 40 which lie in the paths of the secondary for the transmission of primary keys. It will now be understood that whena secondary key is depressed, it shifts the type carrier to locate the secondary characters at the printing line, at the same time actuating one of the primary keys to print the selected .seconda% character; For example, the primary key at the left side of Fig. I may be actuated by itself to print the primary character K; or, the secondary key at the sametime transmitting movement to the primary key ondary character mentioned primary by itself toprint a primary character, it may be operated by a secondary key to print a secondary, instead of a primary character. If all of the secondary keys are K, so as to print the sec? 1., Each of the last keys. may be operated depressed simultaneously, movement will be transmitted through the fingers 40, to aotu- P, L, O, E, L,

ate the primary keys K, B, N, B, G and Y, at the same time actuating the-type shifter, and all of the secondary characters Wlll be printed" as indicated at the upper portion of Fig I. For the purpose of this disclosure I have shown the various prlmary and secondary characters on the keys, but a skilled operator will actuate the keys without the aid of visible characters, and I, therefore, prefer to use a blind keyboard. Furthermore, any desired primary and secondary characters the secondary keys to said may be depressed with the result of shifting the type carrier and.

and I V ary may be used, and the characters-may be ary ranged in any desired sequence;

The secondary keys do not in any way in terfere with the prnnary keys, the operator being free to. select and print primary characters in the usual manner. It is also very important to note that any one of the secondary characters may be printed by; a. single stroke of a single finger. The value of this feature may not be fully appreciated,

unless it isclearly understood thatspced is a most important factor in shorthand writing; the keys to be operated at a single stroke must all be under the convenientcon trol of the operators fingers, and the oper-. ator should be able to easily select and print a a maximum number of characters at a single stroke. Heretofore, the characters which-I term secondary have been missing from the keyboard so that a complex code is required to represent them; or they have been printed by using one or more fingers to operate one or more ordinary shift keys, at

H the same time using one or more additional fingers to actuate selected printing keys.

Consequently, the operator has heretofore beenunable to rint all of the selected characters at the hlgh rate ofspeed that could be obtained by using a single fin er to v The machine I have shown 'is so clearly print any desired secondary character. constructed that any selected primary charmay be printed by a single stroke-of a single finger.

'lhetype should not slip during the print;

ing' operation, but to obtain the most'satis factory results, the type shifting key (secondary key) must move with the printing key during the entire stroke of the single finger which actuates both keys. If the type is acter, or. any selected "secondary character in motion duringthe printing operation it will'slide on the inking ribbon, or drag the ribbon over the paper, causing a blur in either event. To avoid these undesirable results the speed of the type carrier 19 gradually decreases during the shifting operation, and when the type carrier reaches its secondpirinting position the shift key (secondary ey) can continue in motion without materially shifting the type carrier. This is due to the arrangement of the toggle members 31 and 33, said members constitutipgwhat I term a speed reducing toggle en a shift key is depressed the toggle moves quickly from the position shown in Fig. II to the position shown in Fig. III. At the beginning of this movement, the pivot pin 34 at the upper end of arm- 31 moves upwardly in an arc ofa' circle, and a relatively rapid upward movement is imparted to the link 33. However, when the pivot 34 is alined with the pivots 32 and 35 (Fig.

III), the arm 31 may move a slight distance.--.

without materially changing the position of the shiftable type carrier. In other words,

when the type carrier reaches its secondary printing position (Fig. III) the secondary such a manner that the'type will be approximately at rest when the printing hammer 23 reaches the paper. 7

42 designates a universal bar (Fig. H) engaging the primary key levers near the rear of the machine and connected to an arm 43, the latter being pivotally mounted on the pivot rod 25. I do not deem it necessary to show the paper feeding device, nor the other elements which are usually actuated by the universal bar. I

Figs. IV and V illustrate a modification in which the universal shift bar 28, arranged under the secondary key levers 27', is connected by means of a pair of suspension arms 45, to a shiftable type carrier 19'.

' This type carrier is pivoted at 20', and the upper ends of the suspension arms 45 are ivotally connected to said type carrier. l Vhen one of the secondary key levers 27 is depressed, it transmits movement through a finger to a secondary key lever 24, at the same time actuating the universal bar 28 and arms to shift the type 'carrier.

35 When the type carrier reaches its secondary printing position, the printing hammer 23' on. the selected primary key lever 24 cooperates With the type to print the selected secondary character.

The angular key levers and printing hammers herein shown are claimed in an application for patent filed b me on Nov. 18, 1916, Serial No. 132,076. eference is also made to applications filed by me on Feb. 21, 1917, Serial Nos. 150,052, 150,053 and 150,054, respectively, and to an application filed by me on Nov. 18, 1916, Serial No. 132,062, each of which shows and claims shift keys combined with printing keys of a shorthand machine.

I claim l. A shorthand machine having a shiftable type carrier, a universal type shifter including a pair of arms connected to said type carrier and a shift bar connecting said arms,

a series of shift keys each of which is adapted to actuate said shift bar and type carrier, and a series ofprinting keys movable independently of eachother to print the selected characters, said printing keys being operable by said shift keys.

2. A shorthand machine having printing devices including a printing key, a shiftable printing element, and a shifter for moving said shiftable printing element, said actuated simultaneously, by a 10 single finger, the power is transmitted in master printing key and shifter being movable simultaneously to print a selected character, and said shifter being provided with a speed reducing transmission device including a pivotally supported arm and a link connected thereto to form a toggle through which motion is transmitted to said shiftable print-v ing element.

3. A shorthand machine having printing devices for printing primary and secondary characters, said prlnting devices including printing keys, a shiftable printing element normally positioned to provide for the printing of primary characters and adapted to be shifted to a secondary printing position to provide for the printing of the secondary characters, a shift key movable with said printing keys to print said secondary characters, and a speed changing transmission device through which movement is transmitted from said shift key to said shiftable printing element, said speed changing transmission device including a toggle the pivots of which are approximately in alinement with each other when the shiftable printing element occupies its secondary printing position.

4. A shorthand machine having printing devices including a type carrier provided with a row of numeral type and a row of alphabetical type, a pivotal support for said type carrier, alphabetical keys associated with said type carrier to normally print the alphabetical characters, and a shifter for movingsaid type carrier to locate the row 100.

of numeral type in the printing position; thereby allowing the operator to print numeralsby depressing said alphabetical keys, said shifter including a shift key movable with a companion alphabetical key b a single finger to print a selected numera a pivotally supported arm operable by said shift key, and a link connecting said pivotally supported arm to said type carrier, said pivotally supported arm and said link being combined with each other to constitute a toggle and the pivots of the toggle being in approximate alinement when the type carrier is shifted to print the numerals.

5. A shorthand machine having a keyboard including a series of individual printing keys and a series of individual shift keys, a series of individual shift key levers on which the shift keys are mounted, a series of individual printing key levers on which the printing keys are mounted, a universal shift bar engaged by all of said individual shift key levers, said individual shift key levers being pivotally supported independently of said universal shift bar, and means for transmitting movement from said indigidual shift keys to said individual printing eys.

6. A shorthand machine having a printing device including primary and secondary type characters, a series of individual primary key levers movable simultaneousl to print selected combinations of primary 0 aracters, each of said individual primary key levers being provided with an individual primary key, a shifter including a universal shift bar movable with said primary key levers to provide for the printing of selected combinations of secondary characters, and

ing device including primary and secondary type characters, a series of individual primary key levers movable simultaneously to print selected combinations of primary characters, each of said individual primary key levers being provided with an individual primary key, a shifter including a universal shift bar movable with said primary key levers to provide for the printing of selected combinations of secondary characters, and individual shift key levers each provided with an individual shift key, said individual shift key levers being engaged with and pivotally supported independently of said universal shift bar, each of said individual shift keys being associated with one of said primary keys, and means whereby movement is transmitted from each of said individual shift keys to its companion primary key, each individual shift key being movable in dependently of the other shift keys, and all of said'individual shift keys being free to move simultaneously so that any desired combination ofshift keys ,can be selected and depressed at the same time. ,7

8. A shorthand machine having a printing device including primary and secondary type characters, a series of individual primary key levers movable simultaneously to print selected combinations of primary characters, each of said individual primary key levers being provided with an individual primary key, a shifter including a universal shift bar movable with said primary key levers to provide for the printing of selected combinations of secondary ch'aracters, and individual shift key levers each provided with an individual shift key, said universal shift bar being located between the individual shift key levers and the inclividual primary key levers, said individual shift key levers being engaged with and pivotally supported independently of said universal shift bar, each of said individual shift keys being'associated with one of said primary keys, and means whereby movement is transmitted from each of said individual shift keys to its companion primary key.

9. A shorthand machine having a printing device including primary and secondary type characters, a series of individual primary key levers movable simultaneously to print selected combinations of primary characters, each of said individual primary key levers being provided with an individual primary key, a shifter including a universal shift bar movable with said primary key levers to provide for the printing of selected combinations of secondary characters, inclividual shift key levers each provided with an individual shift key, individual restoring springs retaining said individual shift key levers in their normal positions, said universal shift bar being located between the primary key levers and the shift key levers, said individual shift key levers being pivoted independently of the primary key levers and adapted to engage said universal shift bar, each of said individual shift keys being associated with one of said primary keys, and means whereby movement is transmitted from each of said individual shift keys to its companion primary key, said individual shift keys being free to move simultaneously so that any desired combination of shift keys can be selected and depressed at the same time.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I hereunto affix my signature.

W. S. IRELAND. 

